Saturday, June 6, 2009
Today was a relaxing day around the house...mostly because it was raining outside. Before the rain started we headed out to see my father's name on the Veteran's Memorial here in Charles City. We drove around town seeing how things had changed since last years flood. It seems to me that the midwest gets hit with a flood every couple of years, which is quite unfortunate! For lunch, we finally got Alan some of his favorite pizza...Godfather's Pizza. (yuck!) He was happy though. The rest of the day was spent lounging around the house and taking part in the various movies that are typically broadcasted on Saturdays. We made dinner and once my uncle arrived, we began another "friendly" game of Rummy. In our games of rummy there are always harsh words thrown across the table when our opponents do something that is damaging to our own hands. It is all in good fun and the most important thing afterwards is that we all still love each other! Before going to bed, we popped in a DVD of "Taken". After watching that movie, it took me a little bit of time to get tired again!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Day Twenty Two
Friday, June 5, 2009
Since we went to a late movie last night, we ended up sleeping in and getting a late start this morning. Since we were back in the land of Cracker Barrels (and we slept through breakfast), we stopped for breakfast/lunch and to return a book on tape. We then hit the road to my father's house. We arrived about 4pm and sat around the kitchen table visiting with everyone. We were invited to dinner with my great uncle and his family. You never realize how many people you are related to in this world until you start meeting extended family. Following dinner, we continued with a common tradition...we wasted the night away with several games of "friendly" Rummy!! It was a pretty relaxing day!
Miles Traveled: 7124.5 miles
Since we went to a late movie last night, we ended up sleeping in and getting a late start this morning. Since we were back in the land of Cracker Barrels (and we slept through breakfast), we stopped for breakfast/lunch and to return a book on tape. We then hit the road to my father's house. We arrived about 4pm and sat around the kitchen table visiting with everyone. We were invited to dinner with my great uncle and his family. You never realize how many people you are related to in this world until you start meeting extended family. Following dinner, we continued with a common tradition...we wasted the night away with several games of "friendly" Rummy!! It was a pretty relaxing day!
Miles Traveled: 7124.5 miles
Day Twenty One
Thursday, June 4, 2009
We started off the morning at Wal-Mart getting our second o
il change of the trip. While we were waiting on the car, we went to get some lunch. When we finally got the car back, we headed to Mount Rushmore. I had seen the memorial when I was younger so I was excited to see how much it had changed. When we arrived, my first thought was: it is smaller than I remember. They had also built a lot of new buildings since the last time I was there. There is a trail that you can take that travels closer to the 
memorial and there are other things to do than just sit there looking at the 4 dead presidents. Alan was impressed by the carving and he thought that George Washington's carving was better than the others. We walked the trail, took a few pictures, and headed on our way. We started heading to my father's house in Iowa. It was a pretty long drive, so we stopped before we could make it. When we checked into the hotel, we noticed that there was a movie theater behind it. We decided to catch the late show of "Night of the Museum 2". It was the perfect ending to a long day of driving.
il change of the trip. While we were waiting on the car, we went to get some lunch. When we finally got the car back, we headed to Mount Rushmore. I had seen the memorial when I was younger so I was excited to see how much it had changed. When we arrived, my first thought was: it is smaller than I remember. They had also built a lot of new buildings since the last time I was there. There is a trail that you can take that travels closer to the 
memorial and there are other things to do than just sit there looking at the 4 dead presidents. Alan was impressed by the carving and he thought that George Washington's carving was better than the others. We walked the trail, took a few pictures, and headed on our way. We started heading to my father's house in Iowa. It was a pretty long drive, so we stopped before we could make it. When we checked into the hotel, we noticed that there was a movie theater behind it. We decided to catch the late show of "Night of the Museum 2". It was the perfect ending to a long day of driving. Day Twenty
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
We woke up this morning to the cool, brisk temperature of 47 degrees!!! Not only wa
s it cold, it was raining. Alan was feeling much better this morning and his fever was gone. We both felt that we should not go camping just in case Alan was not back at 100%. Instead, we decided to explore the major sites of Yellowstone National Park then head on our way. From the west entrance gate, it was about a 35 minute drive to Old Faithful. Along the way, we had a coyote cross the road right in front of the car then we had several families of Bison eating on the side of the road. We f
inally reached Old Faithful and arrived just in time. I was reading in the park paper that the geyser usually erupts about every 90 minutes, but depends on the day and year. We walked up to the geyser and two minutes later it started erupting. It was the warmest I was all day long. It was hard to see where the steam stopped and the sky began due to how grey the sky was. We continued down the road to the waterfall areas. We were apparently on the wrong side because all we could see were the rapids of the river (making Alan think it would be a good idea to come back one day and go white water rafting). We left the park via the east entrance...meaning we had to travel through the sno
wy Rocky Mountains! We were planning on stopping for the night near Mount Rushmore. As a result, we had to take the scenic route (though more mountains) to get to the interstate. While in the mountains, we were able to get close looks at deer, antelope, and moose! It was really neat to see all of the animals in their natural habitat and not in pictures or zoos. I was mostly disappointed that we didn't see any bears. Needless to say, Alan was not upset or disappointed. Going though the mountains we were surprised that the speed limit was 65 mph when Alan and I couldn't go any faster than 40 mph (25 mph around most of the turns). There must be some confident and crazy drivers in Wyoming. We finally reached the interstate and before we knew it we were in Rapid City, where we stopped for the night.
s it cold, it was raining. Alan was feeling much better this morning and his fever was gone. We both felt that we should not go camping just in case Alan was not back at 100%. Instead, we decided to explore the major sites of Yellowstone National Park then head on our way. From the west entrance gate, it was about a 35 minute drive to Old Faithful. Along the way, we had a coyote cross the road right in front of the car then we had several families of Bison eating on the side of the road. We f
inally reached Old Faithful and arrived just in time. I was reading in the park paper that the geyser usually erupts about every 90 minutes, but depends on the day and year. We walked up to the geyser and two minutes later it started erupting. It was the warmest I was all day long. It was hard to see where the steam stopped and the sky began due to how grey the sky was. We continued down the road to the waterfall areas. We were apparently on the wrong side because all we could see were the rapids of the river (making Alan think it would be a good idea to come back one day and go white water rafting). We left the park via the east entrance...meaning we had to travel through the sno
wy Rocky Mountains! We were planning on stopping for the night near Mount Rushmore. As a result, we had to take the scenic route (though more mountains) to get to the interstate. While in the mountains, we were able to get close looks at deer, antelope, and moose! It was really neat to see all of the animals in their natural habitat and not in pictures or zoos. I was mostly disappointed that we didn't see any bears. Needless to say, Alan was not upset or disappointed. Going though the mountains we were surprised that the speed limit was 65 mph when Alan and I couldn't go any faster than 40 mph (25 mph around most of the turns). There must be some confident and crazy drivers in Wyoming. We finally reached the interstate and before we knew it we were in Rapid City, where we stopped for the night. Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Day Nineteen
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Well...today was a pretty boring day. We woke up and did some laundry. Our worst motel ever advertised a continental breakfast, but when we arrived there was only coffee and commercially wrapped danishes. We left and headed to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and to exchange some books on tape. It was 4.5 hours until we got to Yellowstone National Park, so we hopped in the car and headed out. We had intentions of exploring the park when we arrived, but Alan's "allergy attack" from the day before progressed to a low grade fever and he was not feeling well. At that point, we don't think that he had an allergy attack but the beginnings of a cold. We finally stopped and I put Alan to bed. Hopefully he will be feeling better tomorrow and we will explore the park.
Well...today was a pretty boring day. We woke up and did some laundry. Our worst motel ever advertised a continental breakfast, but when we arrived there was only coffee and commercially wrapped danishes. We left and headed to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and to exchange some books on tape. It was 4.5 hours until we got to Yellowstone National Park, so we hopped in the car and headed out. We had intentions of exploring the park when we arrived, but Alan's "allergy attack" from the day before progressed to a low grade fever and he was not feeling well. At that point, we don't think that he had an allergy attack but the beginnings of a cold. We finally stopped and I put Alan to bed. Hopefully he will be feeling better tomorrow and we will explore the park.
Day Eighteen
Monday, June 1, 2009
We woke up in Seattle this morning. After checking out of the hotel
, we headed to the Seattle Center where the Space Needle was located. We had called the night before to see if there were any reservations available at the restaurant, but there weren't any. 
We went to the top of the needle and were able to see the top of the Seattle skyline. On our way back down, we found out that the restaurant served lunch and had reservations available...so we snagged one. The restaurant at the top of the needle spins (very slowly) so that over the course of your meal, you have seen the entire city. The meal was very delicious. It was the most expensive meal we have had thus far. We left with overstuffed stomachs and headed downtown. We went to the famous Pike Place Market and got to see the people throwing the fish!! It was really cool. We went to the first Starbucks store but since we were so full from lunch, we did not get anything. After finishing the tourist attractions in Seattle, we started heading east. Alan started to get tired, so I was able to drive. By the end of the night, added 6 hours to my driving time. Thus far on the trip...I have driven 8.5 hours. I can't say that I'm complaining. We stopped for the night, which happened to be the worst motel yet!! 
, we headed to the Seattle Center where the Space Needle was located. We had called the night before to see if there were any reservations available at the restaurant, but there weren't any. 
We went to the top of the needle and were able to see the top of the Seattle skyline. On our way back down, we found out that the restaurant served lunch and had reservations available...so we snagged one. The restaurant at the top of the needle spins (very slowly) so that over the course of your meal, you have seen the entire city. The meal was very delicious. It was the most expensive meal we have had thus far. We left with overstuffed stomachs and headed downtown. We went to the famous Pike Place Market and got to see the people throwing the fish!! It was really cool. We went to the first Starbucks store but since we were so full from lunch, we did not get anything. After finishing the tourist attractions in Seattle, we started heading east. Alan started to get tired, so I was able to drive. By the end of the night, added 6 hours to my driving time. Thus far on the trip...I have driven 8.5 hours. I can't say that I'm complaining. We stopped for the night, which happened to be the worst motel yet!! 
Day Seventeen
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Sunday started off with a long c
ar ride through the mountains to Crater Lake, OR. When we left the hotel, it was cold...a constant theme on the west coast thus far. As we got closer to Crater Lake, we stopped for some groceries at a general store so that we could have a picnic lunch at the lake. I stepped out of the car and it was about 80 degrees. You should have seen my face...I was in heaven. For those of you who don't know me very well...I have become to detest cold weather. It was so nice to be able to wear a sleeveless shirt again. We packed in our groceries and continued to the lake. When we entered the National Park, my warm weather enjoyment turned to puzzlement when we spotted SNOW on the ground!! We got out of the car (yes, it was still warm outside...about 75 degrees) to investigate. Alan commented that I looked like some
one who had never seen snow before. I told him that I had never seen snow in 75 degree weather!! We had a pretty steep climb and the snow became more abundant which was accompanied with a lower temperature. We finally reached the top of the mountain, parked the car and unloaded our picnic lunch. We made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on the top of a snow-capped mountain, surrounded by a crystal blue lake...life is good. Most of the park was still shut down due to the snow, but signs of melting were evident. We then set the GPS for Seattle and drove for the rest of the day. When we were driving through Portland, OR, we could see (what we think is) Mount Saint Helen's in the distance...also snow capped. All of the snow made me realize that mountain living is not for me.
ar ride through the mountains to Crater Lake, OR. When we left the hotel, it was cold...a constant theme on the west coast thus far. As we got closer to Crater Lake, we stopped for some groceries at a general store so that we could have a picnic lunch at the lake. I stepped out of the car and it was about 80 degrees. You should have seen my face...I was in heaven. For those of you who don't know me very well...I have become to detest cold weather. It was so nice to be able to wear a sleeveless shirt again. We packed in our groceries and continued to the lake. When we entered the National Park, my warm weather enjoyment turned to puzzlement when we spotted SNOW on the ground!! We got out of the car (yes, it was still warm outside...about 75 degrees) to investigate. Alan commented that I looked like some
one who had never seen snow before. I told him that I had never seen snow in 75 degree weather!! We had a pretty steep climb and the snow became more abundant which was accompanied with a lower temperature. We finally reached the top of the mountain, parked the car and unloaded our picnic lunch. We made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on the top of a snow-capped mountain, surrounded by a crystal blue lake...life is good. Most of the park was still shut down due to the snow, but signs of melting were evident. We then set the GPS for Seattle and drove for the rest of the day. When we were driving through Portland, OR, we could see (what we think is) Mount Saint Helen's in the distance...also snow capped. All of the snow made me realize that mountain living is not for me.
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